Tell me about yourself

Start with your current role and the most relevant court reporting experience, focusing on the past five to ten years and the skills that match the job. Mention your stenography certification, average words-per-minute if relevant, and any realtime or deposition experience that directly applies to the position. Give a short example of a recent assignment that shows your strengths, such as a lengthy deposition you delivered on time with high accuracy. Practice a 90 to 120 second version so you sound natural and focused, and avoid reciting your entire resume or unrelated early-career details.

Why did you choose court reporting as a career?

Explain what drew you to the work, such as an interest in accuracy, language, or legal processes, and connect that motivation to what you do today. Emphasize that you enjoy working under pressure and producing verbatim records that parties rely on for legal outcomes. Share a brief example, for instance, how a mentor or a school program introduced you to stenography and how that led to certification and courtroom work. Be honest about challenges, and show that you accept the demands of long hearings and continuing education as part of the role.

What is your realtime reporting experience and speed?

Describe the software and hardware you use for realtime delivery, your typical WPM range, and how you measure accuracy during live feeds. If you have official certification or a verified test score, state that and be ready to provide a sample feed or transcript for review. Give a specific example of a realtime assignment, such as providing live captioning for a hearing with minimal latency and how you handled corrections. Mention any practices you use to keep accuracy high, like regular dictionary updates, focused warm-ups, and short break routines to avoid fatigue.

Which court reporting equipment and software are you most comfortable with?

List the steno machine models and realtime software you use, and include any audio transcription or editing tools you rely on, such as case management systems. Be concrete about versions and plugins if they matter, and explain any quick learning steps you take when adopting new tools. Provide an example of when you switched systems, how you trained yourself, and how you validated transcript output to maintain consistency. Offer to demonstrate your setup or discuss file formats you deliver, and avoid vague statements about being familiar with everything without examples.

How do you ensure accuracy during fast or overlapping testimony?

Explain your approach to active listening, short-hand techniques, and when you flag unclear portions for immediate clarification or later review. Describe how you use markers, timestamps, and context clues to reconstruct overlapping speech without guessing at content. Give a concrete technique, such as assigning speaker identifiers on the fly and replaying backup audio when allowed to confirm unclear segments. Avoid saying you never make mistakes, and instead present your correction workflow and quality checks to reassure the interviewer.

How do you handle unfamiliar legal terminology, proper names, or technical jargon?

Describe your pre-session preparation, including researching the case, requesting witness lists, and building glossary entries in your dictionary before proceedings begin. Explain how you capture phonetic spellings during testimony and add verified entries immediately after the session to prevent repeated errors. Share an example where prep saved time, such as adding specialized medical terms before a deposition and delivering a cleaner transcript. Mention that you follow up with counsel when a spelling is unclear rather than guessing, and keep a running reference file for recurring clients or practice areas.

How do you manage long proceedings and avoid burnout?

Talk through your pacing strategies, such as scheduled short breaks, hydration, and micro stretching to maintain focus during multi-hour sessions. Explain how you break long jobs into manageable segments and use checklist routines to reset between sessions and keep accuracy steady. Give a practical example, like how you planned coverage for a two-day hearing with timed breaks and a backup reporter for relief, and how that preserved transcript quality. Emphasize that you prioritize sleep and practice to keep realtime performance consistent, and avoid claiming you never feel fatigued.

How do you protect confidentiality and handle sensitive information?

State the specific procedures you follow, such as secure file transfer protocols, encrypted storage, password-protected transcripts, and limiting access to scopists or proofreaders who are bound by confidentiality agreements. Mention familiarity with court rules and professional ethics that govern handling sealed or privileged material. Provide an example of handling a sealed exhibit or private deposition, describing how you logged access and ensured secure delivery to counsel. Make clear that you would flag any request that seems to breach confidentiality and consult counsel or your supervisor rather than make unilateral decisions.

Describe your editing and proofreading workflow after a session.

Outline the steps you take after recording, such as downloading audio, time-stamping unclear sections, running an initial pass for obvious errors, and then a focused proofread for context and formatting. Explain how you use a combination of software tools and manual review to catch homophones and ensure legal citations are correct. Give a specific routine, for example, doing an initial cleanup within 24 hours, then a final proofread the next day before delivery, and using a scopist for large volumes when appropriate. Mention that you track common error patterns and update your dictionary to reduce repeat mistakes, and avoid saying your process is one-size-fits-all.

What would you do if you realized you missed a portion of testimony after submitting a transcript?

Describe your corrective steps, including immediately notifying the client, reviewing backup audio, and preparing an errata or corrected transcript with clear annotations. Explain that you follow any court or agency rules about filing corrected transcripts and document the correction process to maintain transparency. Provide an example of a time you issued a timely correction, how you communicated the issue and resolution to counsel, and how you prevented similar errors in future sessions by adjusting your setup. Stress that prompt, honest communication and a documented correction plan preserve trust and professional credibility.

Describe a time you had to deliver a transcript on a very tight deadline

Situation: I was covering a deposition that ended late, and the requesting counsel needed the transcript by early morning the next day, which was a shorter turnaround than usual. Task: I had to produce an accurate, formatted transcript while preserving verbatim content and meeting the client deadline. Action: I prioritized sections by timeliness, saved and labeled audio segments for quick access, and worked in focused sprints with short breaks to maintain accuracy, while communicating progress to counsel. Result: I delivered the transcript on time with standard accuracy, counsel accepted the delivery without dispute, and I received follow-up work from that firm because they trusted the turnaround.

Tell me about a time you handled a difficult speaker who interrupted frequently

Situation: During a contested hearing, a witness talked over attorneys and often changed topics mid-answer, making the record hard to follow. Task: I needed to capture an accurate verbatim record, identify speakers reliably, and flag unclear passages for possible clarification without disrupting the proceeding. Action: I used quick speaker identifiers, inserted timestamps for confusing segments, and noted exact moments to flag for counsel to clarify on the record if needed. Result: The transcript was accepted with minimal errata, and counsel later praised the clear flags and timestamps that made post-hearing review efficient.

Describe a situation where you found and corrected a critical error before final delivery

Situation: While proofing a long deposition, I noticed a repeated misrendering of a technical term that altered meaning in multiple places. Task: I needed to correct every instance consistently and determine whether the error affected other portions of the transcript. Action: I searched the file for all instances, corrected them using the verified spelling from follow-up materials, and reran a quality check on surrounding context to ensure no cascading issues remained. Result: I delivered a corrected transcript with a brief cover note explaining the revision, counsel appreciated the thoroughness, and I updated my dictionary to prevent recurrence.

court reporter Interview Questions: Complete Guide

Court reporter interview questions often cover your stenography skills, accuracy under pressure, and how you handle legal terminology. Expect a mix of behavioral questions, a skills check or speed test, and practical questions about equipment and realtime reporting, and know that interviewers will look for calm focus and consistent accuracy.

Common Interview Questions

Behavioral Questions (STAR Method)

STAR Method: Structure your answers using Situation, Task, Action, and Result to tell compelling stories about your experience.

Questions to Ask the Interviewer

Show your interest by asking thoughtful questions

•What does success look like in this role after six months, particularly around accuracy and turnaround expectations?
•How is the team structured for large trials, and what systems are in place for reporter relief or backup coverage?
•What realtime or delivery platforms does your office use, and are reporters expected to maintain their own licenses or subscriptions?
•Can you describe a recent challenge the team faced with a complex case, and how the reporting staff supported the legal team?
•What opportunities exist for professional development, such as specialized vocabulary training or certification support?

Interview Preparation Tips

Practice a short, 90 to 120 second response to common opening questions so you sound concise and focused under interview pressure.

Bring a one-sheet that lists your machine model, realtime software, verified WPM or certification, and a short portfolio sample or redacted transcript for reference.

Before a skills test, warm up with focused drills and a quick dictionary check, and explain your correction workflow aloud so interviewers understand your quality controls.

Ask about typical caseload, turnaround expectations, and the support available for long hearings to make sure the role fits your working style.

Overview

# Overview

This guide prepares you for court reporter interviews by focusing on three areas: technical skills, courtroom experience, and professional behavior. Employers commonly test shorthand speed and accuracy, ask about certification and continuing education, and evaluate how you manage stress and confidentiality.

For example, many hiring panels will include a 3–10 minute live transcription test and ask for proof of a minimum speed—commonly between 180 and 225 words per minute—so bring recent speed-test results or a certified transcript sample.

In addition, expect 5–8 behavioral questions that probe teamwork, ethics, and error handling. Interviewers often want concrete examples: describe a time you corrected a transcript under deadline pressure, or explain your process for securing exhibits.

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure responses and keep answers to 60–90 seconds.

Beyond the interview itself, employers evaluate fit: availability for depositions, willingness to travel, and software familiarity (Case Catalyst, Eclipse, or digital audio platforms). State licensing and membership in professional bodies also matter; mention active standing with your state board or the NCRA when applicable.

Actionable takeaway: prepare a 3-minute transcription sample, list recent speeds with dates, and rehearse 6 behavioral stories using STAR—each under 90 seconds.

Subtopics to Prepare

# Subtopics to Prepare

•Stenography speed and accuracy: know your certified speeds (e.g., 200 wpm literary, 225 wpm realtime) and bring proof.
•Software tools: list versions you use (Case Catalyst 21.1, Eclipse 10.5) and describe a task you completed in each.
•Equipment troubleshooting: prep quick explanations for fixing common problems (rebooting writer, updating drivers, reconnecting CAT software).

•Confidentiality: explain steps you take to secure transcripts and exhibits (encrypted storage, locked cabinets, NDAs).
•Courtroom protocol: review procedures for swearing witnesses, marking exhibits, and recording objections.

•Turnaround examples: provide 2–3 specifics (e.g., delivered 150-page deposition transcript in 24 hours while maintaining <1% error rate).
•Prioritization: describe how you triage multiple jobs—use delivery windows and client communication.

•Communication: explain how you clarify unclear testimony without disrupting proceedings.
•Stress handling: give one concrete technique (4–4–4 breathing, five-minute buffer between jobs).

Actionable takeaway: create a one-page cheat sheet with speeds, software versions, three turnaround examples, and four STAR stories to bring to the interview.

Resources and Practice Tools

# Resources and Practice Tools

•Professional Organizations

•National Court Reporters Association (NCRA): certification details, continuing education, and sample exams.
•State boards: check your state’s licensing website for specific speed and ethics requirements.

•Practice Materials

•Sample dictation files: download 5–10 minute deposition and courtroom files (aim to practice 30–60 minutes daily).
•Speed tests: use timed drills (3-, 5-, and 10-minute runs). Track WPM and accuracy; target a 5% error rate or better for hireable candidates.

•Software and Hardware

•CAT software: Case Catalyst, Eclipse—practice exporting transcripts and applying macros.
•Backup tools: learn cloud upload processes and encrypted USB workflows to demonstrate data security.

•Interview Prep Tools

•Mock interviews: schedule 2–3 mocks with a colleague or mentor; record and review them.
•Portfolio: assemble 3 anonymized sample transcripts (10–30 pages) and a one-page skills summary.

•Job Search and Networking

•Job boards: check Indeed, LinkedIn, and NCRA job listings weekly.
•Local associations: attend 2–4 monthly meetings to meet judges, clerks, and attorneys.

Actionable takeaway: build a 6-week plan—daily 30-minute speed practice, weekly mock interview, and upload three polished transcripts to your portfolio.

court reporter Interview Questions: Complete Guide

Emily Thompson

Common Interview Questions

Behavioral Questions (STAR Method)

Questions to Ask the Interviewer

Interview Preparation Tips

Overview

Subtopics to Prepare

Resources and Practice Tools

Interview Prep Checklist

Build your job search toolkit

court reporter Interview Questions: Complete Guide

Emily Thompson

Common Interview Questions

Q1Tell me about yourself

Q2Why did you choose court reporting as a career?

Q3What is your realtime reporting experience and speed?

Q4Which court reporting equipment and software are you most comfortable with?

Q5How do you ensure accuracy during fast or overlapping testimony?

Q6How do you handle unfamiliar legal terminology, proper names, or technical jargon?

Q7How do you manage long proceedings and avoid burnout?

Q8How do you protect confidentiality and handle sensitive information?

Q9Describe your editing and proofreading workflow after a session.

Q10What would you do if you realized you missed a portion of testimony after submitting a transcript?

Behavioral Questions (STAR Method)

B1Describe a time you had to deliver a transcript on a very tight deadline

B2Tell me about a time you handled a difficult speaker who interrupted frequently

B3Describe a situation where you found and corrected a critical error before final delivery

Questions to Ask the Interviewer

Interview Preparation Tips

Overview

Subtopics to Prepare

Resources and Practice Tools

Interview Prep Checklist

Build your job search toolkit